Although the U.S. focus remains on exerting diplomatic and economic pressure on Syria, the Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command have begun a preliminary internal review of U.S. military capabilities, CNN has learned.

The options are being prepared in the event President Barack Obama were to call for them. Two senior administration officials who spoke about the review to CNN emphasized that U.S. policy for now remains the use of non-military options.

The focus on diplomatic options was underscored by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

"Before we start talking about military options, we very much want to ensure that we have exhausted all the political, economic and diplomatic means at our disposal," Ambassador Susan Rice said on CNN's “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

The president has also said that the U.S. is working on non-military options first.

"I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention, and I think that's possible," Obama said in an interview with NBC News that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

But the military is beginning to look at what can be done. One of the senior U.S. officials called the effort a “scoping exercise” to see what capabilities are available given other U.S. military commitments in the region.

Both officials pointed out that this type of planning exercise is typical for the Pentagon, which would not want to be in the position of not having options for the president, if and when they are asked for.

It would be Gen. James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, who would provide details on what U.S. military assets are available, what missions they could perform if asked, and what risks U.S. forces might face.

“The Pentagon is closely monitoring developments in Syria. It wouldn’t be doing its job if it didn’t put some ideas on the table,” one of the senior U.S. officials told CNN. “But absolutely no decisions have been made on military support for Syria.”

The two officials were not willing to be identified because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Typically those types of options are held by the Pentagon as very preliminary plans and not even forwarded to the White House unless asked for. If asked, plans are then fleshed out with specific units to support them.

In this type of analysis being done, the military would typically look at all options ranging from humanitarian relief, to support for opposition groups, as well as outright military strikes, although that is an unlikely option, both officials said.

“This remains a campaign to apply economic and diplomatic pressure,” the first official said.

The military’s work to analyze potential military options for Syria has been quietly going on for several weeks, two administration officials confirm to CNN. The bulk of the analysis is being done by staff of General Mattis, who would be the senior commander if the President were to order any action.

Mattis’ analysis is being shared with General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who would then present options to the White House, if it came to that.

“We don’t want to be in the position of suddenly dusting off some five year old plan,” one official said. The official emphasized the work is extremely preliminary but said the military would look at a full range of contingencies.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Armed Services committee, told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. should consider "all options including arming the opposition."

But U.S. officials said that adding weapons into the volatile and violent situation is not a viable option.

"We never take anything off the table. The president does (or) doesn't. However, as the president himself made absolutely clear and as the secretary has continued to say, we don't think more arms into Syria is the answer," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

soundoff(1,839 Responses)

billgme

There is senseless violence and slaughter going on in Syria. The US has a moral responsibility to do all it can to stop the slaughter any way we can. These are human beings, women and children being murdered everyday. To take any option off the table would be immoral. I don't wanna live in a country that won't stand up for the innocent!

CNN please stop this ridiculous coverage of what is going on in there! When the World Trade Center collapse there were people clapping in there as thousands were dying here! STOP PUBLICIZING THEIR ISSUES, it is not our problem! ENOUGH! and REMOVE THAT STUPID LINK IN ARABIC AT THE TOP! We are in America, and we speak ENGLISH... NOT ARABIC!

Can't be true – when I was with yer mum last night, she was shouting obscenities in all kinds of languages. Got her MSN addy too.

February 8, 2012 at 12:53 pm |

The dude

And how would you suggest we change those views and relations with people like this? They may have done as you said but shouldn't we be bigger than they? To stand by and cheer that they may be slaughtered makes me think they were not wrong in hating us. I am not advocating our military involvement, in fact I am not stating I know what to do at all, I am just stating that no one deserves what is happening there.

SERIOUSLY... Why are we so dumb? When are we going to understand it is NOT WORTH IT to waste American lives and/or a penny in any islamic country... they hate us, they do not share the values we stand for (freedom, respect, tolerance, "live your live whichever way you want as long as you don't bother me and pay taxes"... it is about time we start minding our own business and problems which are far numerous!

"The two officials were not willing to be identified because they were not authorized to talk to the media."

Then keep your mouths shut and honor the men and women that are putting their lives on the line to keep us safe. I am sick and tired of seeing this in every news article I read...keep your mouths shut.

its so easy for everyone to get behind the soldiers in ww2. oh nazi's are killing jews in mass, lets go get em boys, but when its syrians killing syrians its bad? what about the bs that bush fed us over how sadam was an evil doer and even though we cant find wmd's we can still remove the bad guy who kills his own people....? wake up idiots

No Saddam Hussein was a nice , caring gentle man .... Now send your daughters over for them genius You go over to one of these backward haven for criminals and VOICE YOUR OPINION I dare you !!! ..... Please GO !!!!! Always believe the other side and doubt your own country ( that's if it really is your country ) .

The jewish at least are grateful for the intervention in WW2 to save them. they do not pledge to destroy or wipe out another culture because of religious differences they DO RIGHTFULLY DEFEND THEMSELVES, they maybe the largests recipients of us aid to which I don't agree, BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN LIVE BY THEM THEY ARE TOLERANT OF OTHERS AS LONG AS YOU DONT MESS WITH THEM.

Some you you people just don't get it. It is the Military's responsibility to review its capabilities involving world events that may involve the US. This goes on ALL THE TIME – NON STOP. This is an on-going process at the senior command levels. We expect the military vis a vis the Joint Chiefs of Staff to provide military advise to the POTUS regardless of who it is. They can't provide advise without having done the capabilities analysis first. Whether or not you support or oppose any form of military intervention is another story. You are entitled to your opinion. Just remember, the military is an instrument of the state. You might find Samuel P. Huntington's The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations, (1957) enlightening.

Why are we so dumb? When are we going to understand it is NOT WORTH IT to waste American lives and/or a penny in any islamic country... they hate us, they do not share the values we stand for (freedom, respect, tolerance, "live your live whichever way you want as long as you don't bother me and pay taxes"... it is about time we start minding our own business and problems which are far numerous!

When are we going to understand the following: We haven't went into Syria because they have no oil. Libya was assaulted within a month of attacking people in defacto rebel capital. Libya hadn't come close to killing the amount of people that Assad has murdered in Homs. It all boils down to what the countries new leaders have to offer their saviors. Nothing, nothing and nothing. This will go on and on and more people will die. Its unfortunate but true.

Of course the U.S. will get engage and help save the lives of millions of innocent Syrians–which is a good thing. But there is also an ulterior motive. They are preparing to bomb Iran. What better way to get back into the Middle East with a legitimate reason than take out Syrian leadership, save the country, get the raves and kudos from the Arabs and then take out Iran....its beautiful

The US is coming up on another economic crash, and this one will make 2008 look like a slight hiccup. Had the US done what Iceland did and thrown the crooked bankers behind the mortgage-backed securities fraud, the US economy (and indeed Europe as well) would be on the way up. But corruption and politics prevailed, the bankers went unmolested and Obama is even now trying to force through his foreclosure settlement to bury the last of their crimes even as the total cost of buying back all that bad paper and clearing up the credit default swaps comes crashing down on us all.

So right now the US Government needs a major war to blame the coming bad times on. "Sorry there is no gas, but you know there is a war on!" "Sorry there is no food, but you know there is a war on!" "Sorry there is no medical care, but you know there is a war on!" "Sorry there is no [insert basic necessities of life here], but you know there is a war on!" Yadda yadda yadda. Absent a major war, the people of the United States will rightly blame the federal government for the horrendous mess they made looking the other way while Wall Street committed the biggest financial swindle in history, then tried to shift the losses onto the people. Sio the Federal Government needs a war and they need it right now, becausre after all, they evaded the blame for the crash of 1907 by getting into WW1, they evaded the blame for the crash of 1929 by getting into WW3., so it stands to reason they will evade the blame for the crash of 2008 by getting into WW3. After all, it worked before, and it isn't their children being blown to bloody bits.

The plan was to invade Iran, but in order to keep Russia and China out of the war, it has to be Iran's fault. Plans for a false-flag appear to be on hold because 99% of the world's population are expecting either the US or Israel to try a stunt like that. So plan B is in effect, which is to start a war with Syria and hope Iran honors its treaty obligations and comes to Syria's aid. The US media will spin this as an Iranian provocation, and blame Iran for the resulting regional conflict, urging Russia and China to mind their own business.

The problem is that Russia and China have played Neville Chamberlain to the US' Hitler for far too long and like that poor fool now understand that conquerors never stop themselves; they must be stopped while it is still possible to do so.

Which is why we face a nuclear conflict if We The People forget that this is really our country, and ultimately the master of its fate.

Michael Rivero – I don't know where you get your revisionist causes for the US' entry into WWI and WWII but it is definitely different.

You are starting to sound like Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code where every wild assumption has to be accepted as fact in order to move on to the next wild assumption. Makes a good story but ..... not a lot really grounded in fact.

Syrian people started this uprising, Syrian people should finish this uprising. When is our leadership going to understand, it doesn't matter if we get involved or not, the end result will be another country that hates the United States. The United States needs to stay out of Syria, If Hillary wants to condemn their actions, that's the extent we should get involved.

I agree with you and this is why we shouldn't get involved between Iran and Israel. Our kids should not die for a foreign country like Israel, let Israel fight their own wars since we give them $billions that caused the American people to lose their homes and jobs!

your first post appeared simply to be that of an uninformed america first dolt complaining of "billions to israel" resulting in americans losing their jobs but your second post clarified your agenda, you're simply a palestinian apologist dolt whining the palestinian mantra "woe is me, woe is me, everyone but us is the cause of our misery' and "give us the billions so americans can lose their jobs as we are the victims, oh my woe is me". even you can see the absurdity in your 2 posts, i would think, but maybe not.

February 8, 2012 at 1:02 pm |

rick

apparently somebody flagged your first anti israel post which is too bad as it read quite nicely with your 2nd anti israel post which as noted contains your true agenda, which is not america first, but the palestinian mantra: "woe is me"

February 8, 2012 at 1:15 pm |

rick

correction "first", both of your doltish posts do appear. sorry i "misspoke" . keep singing "woe is me, woe is me, we are champions of our own misery".

February 8, 2012 at 1:17 pm |

Me

Americans started our revolution, Americans finished our revolution....with the help of the French. Its our legacy to help.

you can't ask such a blunt question and get a meaningful answer. what kind of intervention? it would make a big differrence. an intervention like in Libya? or like one of our multiple "interventions" in Iraq (e.g., the enforcement of the No Fly Zone over Kurdish Iraq vs. the invasion and forcible regime change in 2003)

there is also the question of what might be possible and beneficial given the significant differences between the situations in Libya (flat, coastal access, mostly empty desert, inept military, within range of NATO airbases) and Syria (limited coastal access, mountainous, more widely developed, a military not nearly as inept as Libya's).

You should ask al-Assad if you can visit his lovely, blood and gore covered capital and his palace to be lavished with belongings from the people he slaughtered and watch it all happen on Syrian Pay-Per View. Shut the hell up.

You feel bad for these poor people but why is it our responsibility to fix their problems? We continue to help countries who despise our very existence...we feed the economies of countries who do not share our same values and morals and keep their people oppressed. We've strayed so far from what once made us the greatest country in the world. It's now for the government, of the government and by the government.

The time to do something is yesterday. By the time it is all figured out, most of the people will be dead. They are being killed right now! I know there are issues that have to be discussed 100 times by politicians sitting around a table – but what makes Libyan lives worth more than Syrians If we are humanitarian at all, we must interrupt this slaughter.

IF Obama goesnto war with Syria he can kiss my vote goodbye. I am sick and tired of the garbage from a man who can stand up to foreign dictators who have nothing to do with me, yet is absolutely spineless with the people in Washington. Maybe Obama should be Secretary General of the UN instead of our president.

What I want to know is why these people can't find their own way out of this. Other countries have had revolutions and the people have come out much better. They may want to look into drafting a proper constitution separate from ALLAH, quit thumbing the Quran and stop allowing paranoid, Christian/ democracy hating psychos lead them from now on.

Patrickt, sadly I have to agree with you there. He has shown himself ineffective on so many occasions when it has come to domestic issues (which understandably is what the voters care about) that taking out Muslim dictators and terrorists may not be enough to get him four more years.

Are you in the same country I live in (USA)? If so, it should be very obvious to you that President Obama has not been able to get much business done in Washington because of the GOP's 'let's make President Obama a one term President' objective, and not take care of the people's business, which is what they were supposedly elected for. Not engaging in a debate with the GOP for the press to see does not mean he is 'spineless'. I am sure there is a lot of activity behind the scenes. I do not believe for a second that he will send this country into another war on a whim. He just 'lowered the curtains' on Iraq, which by the way he promised to do. Let's be objective and factual here.

Obama and Pelosi dug this hole now they must live in it. You don't remember, " You have to pass this bill so you can find out what's in it!" The Democrats shoved healthcare down everyone's throat and they didn't care a lick what anyone thought. They started this gridlock in Congress! Don't use the GOP for your excuse! Democrats made ZERO attempts to work with ANYONE when they held both the House and the Senate!

February 8, 2012 at 12:52 pm |

AgreenOH

If the US intervenes, Obama will definitely NOT send us into another "war." His strike will be swift and very well thought out. We (Nato) will wipe out all communications and military strong points (airstrips, bases, tanks, weapons, etc). We will arm the "rebels" and provide them with proper weapons needed to win a civil war. We will not send a hundred thousand troops to fight a ground war nor will we spend billions and billions of $'s. We will send in special-ops forces to sniff out and lead the rebels to assad and his key members of power... Libya should have been a lesson to all of these countries in the Middle East. This is the way Obama does business. This is the way it should be done. This is the way Bush SHOULD have done.

Obama said he would hunt and kill Bin Laden – He DID. Obama said he would get us out of Afghan and Iraq – He DID... He will get my vote in '12 based on those two things.

February 8, 2012 at 1:13 pm |

Physicist

Special relativity is a theory of the structure of spacetime. It was introduced in Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (for the contributions of many other physicists see History of special relativity). Special relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in classical mechanics:

1.The laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to one another (principle of relativity).
2.The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion or of the motion of the source of the light.
The resultant theory agrees with experiment better than classical mechanics, e.g. in the Michelson-Morley experiment that supports postulate 2, but also has many surprising consequences. Some of these are:

Relativity of simultaneity: Two events, simultaneous for one observer, may not be simultaneous for another observer if the observers are in relative motion.
Time dilation: Moving clocks are measured to tick more slowly than an observer's "stationary" clock.
Length contraction: Objects are measured to be shortened in the direction that they are moving with respect to the observer.
Mass–energy equivalence: E = mc2, energy and mass are equivalent and transmutable.
Maximum speed is finite: No physical object, message or field line can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
The defining feature of special relativity is the replacement of the Galilean transformations of classical mechanics by the Lorentz transformations. (See Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism and introduction to special relativity).

Newton's theory of gravity is one of the most significant triumphs of scientific effort. Its predictions are vindicated by observations with extraordinary accuracy. When Adams in England and Le Verrier in France used the motion of Uranus to predict the existence of Neptune they were expressing the trust people have come to place on Newtonian gravitation as a very good approximation to reality. However as with any theory there are regimes where it is no longer applicable. For example the perihelion of Mercury is observed to precess at the rate of 43 arc-seconds every century. This "fast" precession cannot be explained by Newtonian gravitation. Another issue that came back to haunt Newton's theory of gravity was its "action at a distance" nature. Following the success of Maxwell's field theory of electromagnetic forces it was becoming increasingly necessary to find a similar field theory for gravitation. It was to meet this challenge that Einstein's theory of gravitation rose. It is an even better approximation to physical reality than Newton's theory, and reduces to Newton's theory when applied to the regime where Newton's theory is expected to work. Perhaps even more importantly it provides a geometric understanding of gravitation, which makes it more satisfying than the action at a distance nature of Newtonian gravitation.

When the heck is our leadership going to get the message. We are tired of going into all of these other countries to clean up their mess. Must we vote all our current leadership out of office for them to understand we are tired of fighting all these wars. We need to turn our attention to things going on in our own streets.

Yes, we will have to vote every last one of them out of office. And then we need to line-item vetos, term limits and outlaw lobbyists before letting anyone back in. That would solve the majority of our issues overnight...

As a member of the UN security counsel, the US has a responsibility to provide military forces for the purpose of enforcing the UN's ultimatums. If the world decides that enough is enough, we step in when called.

Absolutely right. The United States is trying to get the UN to sanction Syria and isolate it in order to bring the violence to an end. All countries are responsible to one another to help end vicious violence. To look the other way encourages more behavior like this. There are many examples of this. That does not mean the US will go to war each time, after all, our military is being reorganized and reduced in size. If it wasn't for China and Russia (who else?), tougher sanctions would be in place.

February 8, 2012 at 12:38 pm |

Erin

the Syrian people are revolting; they know perfectly well that they have been ruled by a decades-long oppressive security grip, that they are VERY poor, stolen from, and they are revolting in hopes for freedom. They are being murdered. The UN met to discuss plans for sanctions on Syria last Saturday Feb 4th. Russians vetoed the rest of the UN for imposing sanctions. So,They won the elimination of sanctions. And then they rejected the compromise they forged to create. Over 7,000 (many innocent) are dead. i hope they get their no fly zone. They rely on trade.

Good for them for being prepared for in case of possible intervention. But the prospect of intervention will be very slim no matter how bad the violence gets. Because at this point, I think it's clear that Russia and China have their own pretty significant national interest in that region and us going in will spark an already sensitive flashpoint. We've already pissed off the Russians over Libya. We do not want to even consider combat with another developed country. We may wish to use every covert military options, diplomacy with the Chinese and Russians (and I guess with the Syrians too) and if that doesn't work, for the sake of national interest, simply pull out of this one.

I agree. The difference between Libya and Syria is that Syria has Big Dogs on it's side. The last thing we need is to put both Russia and China in a position where they would feel obligated to respond to a military action from us. We can't police the world. Our intentions are good. We want to support people who want liberty. But we've got to learn that we don't have all the power in the world and that good intentions aren't enough.

We're the good guys and good guys help people. Besides, Iran having that bomb isn't good for anyone in the world including us. Especially us. Call any military action we take an investment in our own defense.

We need to STAY OUT OF IT! Let the middle east battle it out on their own. We keep spending our money and resources on 3rd world nations we will become a 3rd world nation. We never have money for job creation and proper education but we always have money for war somehow someway! Somethings wrong with that picture. Too broke to feed our own but everytime some nation that is rich in natural resources (OIL) has a problem we're there first to wave our flag and declare our help. Nothing like a trojan horse.

I'm all in favor of the military reviewing their options as long as they are focused on the possibility of Syria invading us. Let Europe and the rest of the Middle East deal with this. About time the world press gets after China and Russia for this getting as bad as it is and continuing to prop up a sadistic dictatorship. We need to quit looking for civil wars to interrupt with our form of Military Democracy.

So let me get this straight.. A few weeks ago the POTUS and all the brass are talking about cutting the Armed Forces and putting Soldiers out of jobs to and cut our defense budget...so I think we will send in troops to save ANOTHER country then kick our Soliers out of the military with nothing but a piece of paper saying thanks.. oh by the way we will not give you a retirement but thanks again. Congress should be ashamed of themselves.

So let me get this straight....the military doing it's job, reviewing a situation in where they might be called in and developing possible courses of action depending on possible objectives to be handed down, is a problem? Should they only make preperations once orders are given, thus delaying responsiveness, degrading the core tenet of rapid mobility, and violating war principles of surprise, maneuver and security? Press writing about military matters = fail.

THE concept is take care of america first. stop being the worlds policeman. each and every one of us who has posted on this thread please contact your congressman and tell them it will not be allowed no more... america first remember its halftime people. bring the troops home and let the other countries fight for them not us. as for the oil comment hmm are your a supporter of drill baby babyy drill why not clean energy and wind power and electric.

Then stop driving your car...instability in the middle east would choke oil supplies and cause a world wide fuel crisis. Even if we drilled all over Alaska and imported from Canada, we would still need more fuel. The fact that you don't see how the middle east is vital to U.S. interest show your ignorance at world affairs. I am not saying we should bomb anyone into the stone age...but paying attention and planning for possible issues is prudent and responsible. Sticking our head in the sand and acting like world affairs don't affect us in a globalized economic system is foolish and dangerous-good day sir

It has been unstable for years. One could even argue decades and we still get oil. This isn't our fight. We cannot even get our own internal house in order, what makes everyone think we can fix another country's issues.

February 8, 2012 at 11:57 am |

Average Joe

Tony, the fact that all you see is a need to drive you gaz guzzler to get to work regardless of how many lives its costs, the fact we are telling another nation how to run their affairs (when our own house is riddled with corruption and lies) shows the arrogance that you and many other Americans display on a daily basis. You shouldn't need a car to get to work if you do and you don't like the gas prices then either move or get a job closer to home. If we spent more money on developing infrastructure such as public transit systems and getting jobs for the poor and unemployed people would not have a necessity to live 30 – 45 minutes outside of a major city as the crime would be low thanks to the fact most people would be working. But when you have a 10% or higher true unemployment rate violent crime, robberies and poverty thrive! I as a side discusstion the additional cost of what it is doing to our environment and us, petroleum is a nasty chemical and we handle it every day, every day it drips on the ground on our shoes, clothes, skin and gets into everything and its CARCINOGENIC you ever wonder why we have such high rates of cancer , diabetes and heart disease yet we are the most technologically advanced nation and monks that live up on hill that grow their own food, have no electricty and no vehciles have almost 0% cancer, heart disease and diabetes ....

February 8, 2012 at 11:58 am |

Coflyboy

I already drive my car as little as possible, and ride my bicycle as much as possible; doing 90% of my local errands on bicycle, even riding it to work most of the time. I have also installed insulation and new windows in my home.
What have YOU done to reduce our need for oil? Talk about it?

February 8, 2012 at 12:30 pm |

Yakobi

If you're a faithful follower of Ron Paul's nuttery, you're not a "patriot"–you're an ostrich.

"Nuttery"?
"Beware of foreign entanglements" that was from that other nut, George Washington, but what did he know, really? BTW Yak, this country needs $15.5TRILLION dollars just to be flat broke, how you gonna pay for this?

Angry and bitter much? Yea, I know, it's tough admitting Obama's done better than any Republican puke in his stead would have done. It's tough to admit that in his short time in office, he's cleaned up more trash left over from Republicans than 1di0ts like you care to give him credit for. And that's why you don't. lol, I love it.

If the situation is too stressful, leave comments that are possibly useful to keeping calm and order and go do something else useful to help within your own country or community. Stay away from the international news as needed. We don't need our own trouble spots here any more than what is present. Please?

If Obama is looking like a bigger war monger than Bush, then he is being a bigger war monger out of NECESSITY! For example, we had to go after OBL because Bush and the GOP failed to do their job and they left OBL free and unchecked as he continued to plan and plot to attack us once more. Secondly, all those drone strikes in Pakistan are part of the faciliated effotrs to take out the remaining al Qaeda cells that escaped into Pakistan following our invasion in 2002.

And Libya? Well, during the Bush tenure there was no Arab Spring to deal with! And as leader of the free and democratic world, we just cannot sit back and allow country after country to get consumed in civil wars that if left unchecked could spread around the globe like they did in World War I and II. Just imagine what would have happened if the United States and Great Britain hadn't intervene in the war in the Atlantic and hault Adolph Hitler's war machine. The whole world would have looked different today with and perhaps half of the world's population may have been eradicated as Nazi Germany was on the brink of developing nuclear weapons to preserve its 10,000 year reign.

And at the culmination of the wars in the Atlantic and the Pacific, the United Nations were formulated so that the kinds of war atrocities that took place during World War I and II never again happen again. Subsequently, the role of the UN has been for leaders of the free and democaratic world to find general consensus to denounce atrocities and aggression by dictators and intervene where necessary. let's face it, all wars are bad but sometimes military intervention is warranted to preserve life and bring about peace. Hey, that's how you earn the Nobel Peace Prize!

Very interesting rant. Obama's violent intervention has done a marvelous job of bringing peace to Libya. And the deaths he ordered with his drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan have turned those two places into a paradise for freedom and peace.

Hows that Kool-Aid you have been drinking? You would fit in perfectly with Jonestown! How dare you spew drivel about Obama's "violent intervention" in Libya and deaths in Yemen & Pakistan. How many of our troops have died in Iraq & Afgahnistan? Both wars started by Bush and ended by Obama. How many civilians died in those wars as well? BTW how many of our troops died in that "violent intervention" in Libya or in those drone strikes in Pakistan & Yemen? Further, said drone strikes have killed 3 of the top 4 Al-Queda terrorists and Obama had the top 1 killed with use of SEAL strike team. All with zero US casulties BTW. As far as Libya is concerned, NATO's use of force deposed a dictator with no US troops lost. Bush cost tens of thousands of troop and civilian deaths. 1 regime change in Iraq, 0 in Afganistan, & no deaths of Al-Queda leadership. I suggest you shut up, get an education, and learn the facts before you post.

February 8, 2012 at 11:52 am |

Chiller54

There isn't a better illustration than that post of how the O-Man's election has neutered the "anti-war" movement.

So I suppose if it was you living there in the Hell. You would want the US to stay out of this mess? This isn’t about being a warmonger. It’s about doing the right thing. And those people are pleading for our help. It’s the right thing to do since the UN has failed again to do their responsibility that the UN was created for in the first place. China and Russia only care about making money there. They could care less about saving lives.

I just hope that once this is all said and done that those same people will survive and take back their country and kick Russia and China ass out of their country for their blatant greed over helping those people. Russia and China both hold a seat in the UN, and they choose to not help and do their responsibility as a UIN member that they signed up to d in the first place. Personally I think when a country acts non responsible as they have done that they should lose their seat of power on the UN until they come to their senses.

@ hondo101 – You're a damned f**ken rascist pig. Where are you from? Mississippi? You PIECE OF SH1T !!!!

February 8, 2012 at 11:20 am |

hondo101

to black panther, am I a racest? Im not the one using "black panther as a user name. your more concerned about your color than the rest of the country!

I was making a point that was obviously lost on a "person of color"

February 8, 2012 at 11:25 am |

Chiller54

Hondo has a point.

Why shed blood for those who wouldn't ever do the same for you?

February 8, 2012 at 11:40 am |

Lemark

Whoa there panther, you really missed the context of that comment as a reply to someone who said it is Okay for Muslims to kill muslims. That first statement seems to be acceptable in today's discussion, but is no less racist than the other statments that offended you. The comment was nothing more than an attempt to point out that the comment responded to was racist.

February 8, 2012 at 11:47 am |

diego

we as americans know this is wrong and sad these are people getting killed for wanting to have freedom just like lots of did in the past. jews,blacks,hispanics and everyother race that lives in this country. so when you say white research your history. we have to defend these people in syria its what makes the us strong and proud.even if they hate us we know what we are americans. and for russia and china we are allowing them to continue relationships with these countrys. we need to watch them and start taking america back.

But we need to help them help themselves as in Libia. If we do it for them they will not appreciate the value of their freedom!

February 8, 2012 at 11:32 am |

Mark L.

Not to worry folks – While President Obama is still in office, there will be no US involvement in Syria. However, once we elect Gingrich, Paul, Romney or Santorum into office, rest assured, there'll be a full blown conflict between the US and Syria in addition to the US vs. Iran – rest assured. Now that both the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts are over, the GOP needs to stick their nose in new external world affairs vs. helping the American people at home & helping bring the uncontrollable deficit down.

Well good for you mark... but if you had any idea what you were talking about then you would mention that Ron Paul preaches a NON-intervention foreign policy.. unlike Obama and the other GOP candidates

February 8, 2012 at 11:20 am |

John

"Now that both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are over"?????? That would come as a GREAT surprise to the 100,000+ U.S. troops currently fighting, and dying, in Afghanistan. I'm not sure what you said in the rest of your post as your first sentence identified you as being ignorant on any foreign policy issues whatsoever.

DUDEEEEE!!! WTF are you talking about? Ron Paul going into Syria and Iran? That's like the OPPOSITE of what he believes in. He is an advocate of PEACE and minding our own business, instead of being warmongering policemen of the world.

I also say help the average person living in these countries get out of dodge before they are killed. Send boats or planes to these places, with military escort, to offer political asylum to these poor people trapped in these backwater assholes of countries. Second only to Africa, the Middle East is the most god-awful fucked up place on the planet full of people that have been killing each other for thousands of years, and will continue to do this long after we are gone. I say the only military option we should employ ever again in this region is containment. Just say "If you want to kill each other, fine, just do it within this boundary and never cross unless you want to get vaporized." But like I said earlier, there are good people in places like Israel, Iran, and Syria. Get them out and send them to countries that will take them and treat them fairly. Beyond that, just let them continue their pointless tribal warfare. Let the monkeys beat their chests and throw shit at each other.

There are a lot of people posting on here who don't know history. No other country intervened in the Civil War here in the US when a HUGE percentage of the population (yes, women and children too) were slaughtered by Union troops to "preserve the union." Secondly, the US didn't enter WWII to save the jews. In fact, Roosevelt knew all about the Holocaust and refused to intervene even by bombing railroad links to Auschwitz for fear that he would be perceived as trying to save the jews. The State Dept was extremely antisemitic during WWII. Read your history. I say let Syria fight its own civil war and not take sides in a matter about which we have no national interest. Get real, people. We are broke anyway.

I understand your thoughts and agree. However, there was no UN during the Civil War. Further, the North was heavily supported militarily and monetarily by France. Ditto for the South by England. Keep in mind that England and France were in the middle of a conflict themselves, so each had their reasons for involvement in our Civil War. Suffice to say, it is incorrect to state that no country was involved with our Civil War.

February 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

uhh

Yup, let them kill each other. Obviously allah or whatever its name is, wants this or it wouldn't be happening. The USA needs to keep their snouts out of the pigs trough and take care of their own people first.

I know my commet / point of view will create many reply's....But It seem to me that the sole reason, single purpose for the Worlds unrest is plain and simple: Religon & Religious Beliefs. Take Religon out of the picture and I bet we all could get along....

The two largest genocides of the last centurty were purpetrated in nations that suppresed religion in favor of the state. It is fairly easy to blame religion for all of the chaos, but we have no evidence that leads us to believe that if you take away relgion that people will be any less bloodthirsty.

The only option is for the U.S. to stay out of it, unfortunately. As long as the Iranians stay on the sidelines, we will sadly have to do the same. Anybody with a conscience abhors this kind of slaughter, but if we get involved militarily we invite an escalation into world war. You don't think the Russians and Chinese will want to protect their interests in Syria? Only if the Iranians march in to help Syria will it be necessary to start arming the rebels.

It's best that we keep out of Syria and let the Arab countries, Russia & China handle the mess. Either way we will be blamed by both Islamic supporters, both inside & outside incl. CNN's own Mr.Fareed Zakaria, Dean ObeidALLAH, as also (distinguished!) Profs. Mohammed Ayoob and Juan Cole of Univ. of Michigan, and Ethan Casey of the Huffington Post etc.

You people simply don't get it do you ? You think what happens over there doesn't affect us over here ? Really ? Well ...guess what .... Wake up !! Let me explain it to you pin heads that think Obama just want to go to war because he can ..... It's called Stability in the region. Do you know what they have a lot of over there ... OIL !!!! If we don't go and keep policing the region then the gas that you idiots put in your huge SUVs and Trucks will at least double overnight and possible triple. Then what will you think when you can't fill your gas tank anymore ..... Huh ? You will be wishing that Obama had gone over there and straightened them out ..... And this point doesn't even bring in to bear the humanitarian aspect of stopping this Assad butcher from killing his own people. We are Americans ..... Part of what we believe in is freedom for man to choose his own destiny. Imagine you are sitting having breakfast and your children are machine gunned dead in front of you ..... That's what happening over there ..... And you people want t sit on yr asses and moan .......

It's attitudes like I am seeing written here that are breaking Americas spirit ..... Get over yourselves .... Wake up and s,ell the roses and ensure that you start playing for team USA .... Save our gas tanks and safeguard our future ..... Get it now ??

You're as dumb as I am for reading that monologue that you just wrote.

February 8, 2012 at 11:19 am |

War for Oil

Sure Mike... you go on over there YOURSELF, and do your policing and straightening out. Lead by example.
The rest of us want nothing more to do with wars for oil. We want to get America's factories up and running, and cranking out ALL of the non-oil energy solutions. We can make geothermal heating and cooling for homes, and we can make billions of solar panels. Get OFF the OIL. Stop giving our profits to companies like BP and Halliburton, and make them pay for the Gulf Oil disaster.

February 8, 2012 at 11:32 am |

Whatevs23

Cool story bro. Problem is we banned Syrian oil in August of 2011...yep price is still the same. Syrian oil makes up .5% of the oil exported out of the Middle East, so again i don't see the point of sending our middle and lower class kids to fight for someone elses coup. Not to mention how better off have Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan seemed to you? Let them fight their own battles. One poster is right, when it comes to dealing in dollars and oil with Syria or Iran it has always been China and Russia in there supporting them. So, let them help out their buddies. If anyone has the money to fight multiple front wars and police the world its China. We should know, we sent them all our jobs and built their infrastructure.

February 8, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

uhh

The USA didn't get one drop of oil from any of those countries for the wars they took part in. Let me get this straight – you want to spend trillions of $ so that your gas tank is cheaper to fill? You really need to change your meds.

February 8, 2012 at 1:03 pm |

Darw1n

LOL, You're comparing Obama's diplomatic responses to rising conflicts in the middle east to Bush's two full scale invasions of sovereign foreign countries?

Yeah, obama is trying to avoid sending troops. It's strange how these armchair politicians who complain about going to war – are still complaining now that their government is trying to avoid sending troops to war. Obama has been very consistent with his plan so far. Why all the crying?

February 8, 2012 at 1:05 pm |

MITT ROMNEY

I believe there's a saying...it takes two to tango. First and foremost we have to look at what the oppostion is calling for. Is the opposition calling for just democratic reform or regime change? During the Libyan crisis, the opposition wasn't calling for regime change, just democratic reform, particularly better wages and better living conditions, etc. But unfortunately, the Ghadaffi regime used deadly force to curtail the protests and the opposition had no alternative but to arm themselves to protect themselves and families, eventually resulting in an all out civil war and the eventual demise of Ghadaffi.

So the main question here is what does the opposition in Syria wants? The same kinds of democratic reform the people of Libya were asking for or regime change on the other hand? And if it is regime change, then I believe the best way to address this issue would be for Assad to call for elections. But the problem with open elections is how do you call for them in a country that does not hold elections to determine a presidential leader? That is confusing!

So what's the next step? Sanctions will do too little and military action could make the situation worse. Therefore, I believe the best alternative right now is for the UN to hold a meeting with the foreign minister of Syria and all the opposition leaders at a neutral site with members of the UN and the Arab league so that they can work out their differences. I am not sure that the UN has tried this approach yet. i personally believe it would work.

The people we're dealing with believe their god is great and they support the killing of their people. They also don't like the USA. The US isn't welcome. If the US steps in, it'll be labelled as a reason to declare jihad or whatever you call it, by yet another one of their crazy powerful mentally-ill nutjobs that has a towel too tight around his head – to get enough oxygen to his brain to think straight. Another thing – the GOP is out to make the USA poor and broken. That's always been the case since the dawn of civilization. I have no idea – who in their right mind would be that dumb to elect a party that is out to bring the USA back to the stone age. Get it together, people.

Always, the money seems to appear out of nowhere to fight a new war dealing with some other stupid countries' problems. We are broke yet can afford to fight wars for other countries. Very insane way of doing business!

my question is how do we know the Rebels are in the right and they are the ones we should be supporting? look what happen in afghanistan when we armed the natives to get rid of the Russians..we are now fighting the same group and calling them terrorists and WE gave them arms as well. So who is to say the rebels are always right?

Hey Folks.. I have a great idea. Why don't we let Syria take care of their own problems?? And Egypt..and Libya,, and the other 4 to 6 nations who have leadership problems.
Why should the USA spend billions of dollars and get Americans troops killed over another counties civil wars. We back nations and help them ovethrow the goverment, then 8 to 12 years later we back the group who wants to overthrow the goverment we placed in power. What sect to we back this month? The Sunni or the Shiite?

Hey I have an idea why don't you take a look at all the innocent CHILDREN that are being SLAUGHTERED by those savages and I personally would LOVE to see the US go in there and blow off the heads of every person who is DOING the slaughtering. There is NO EXCUSE for violence like that. Against innocent children and moms looking out for their kids? We should send in troops to neutralize them, and set an example for anyone thinking of COMMITTING MASS GENOCIDE. It's like Hitler with the Jews... If that doesn't work, evacuate the innocent and NUKE those evil bastards.

Okay. You have your personal ideas but the US doesn't need to get involved at this point. War actions will just cause unnecessary wounded and fatalities on an even larger scale. Hopefully the Syrians can reduce the violent measures soon on their own. It can't happen overnight. No, it's not enjoyable to see people getting hurt and we shouldn't get used to it. Presently many of the uninvolved countries need to focus on instability in their own problem areas.

February 8, 2012 at 11:16 am |

Terry

The issue is that as the only remaining good power (We try to be anyway), it's hard to stand back and watch children be killed by a leadership that doesn't care who they bomb as long as they bomb someone. How many women and children can die for no reason before someone has to step in and tell them to stop. Now I don't think America should have to be the only one out there to stand up for the weak and protect the innocent but someone has to do the right thing and that seems to be us most of the time.

Where are the Arab nations with all of their oil wealth? Let them straighten out their Muslim brother. If they want to stop the killing they have the funds to hire people who can do that. Why spend U.S. tax dollars and spill our blood for their cause? The middle east is very needy, we cannot save them all. Where do we draw the line? The world looks to us to do the dirty work and then criticizes us for doing so in the end. It's a no win situation.

I am sick and tired of paying taxes to send our boys to fight and die for people who fundamentally hate us. This is pure insanity! The only candidate who believes we should stop being the world cop is Ron Paul.

LOL. The only reason Ron Paul wants to stop the world cop, is so that there's more $ to pad his own wallets. He's a GOP clown. If you believe for one minute that the GOP operates in the interests of the people of the USA, you're really braindead – or really REALLY rich. Maybe even mentally ill. Get it together – Time to face the facts – the only help that's been pushed for the people in the past decade has been through Obama.

Hell, let Haiti send troops...get some of those monkeys off their butts....that place down there where the earthquake happened a couple of years ago still looks the same. Maybe fighting might agree more with them as doing some work....Haitians like to sell drugs and screu a lot up here...maybe fighting and fukkking is better for them if they are sent over to Syria as solidiers!!!

How about we just stay out of this one, mind our own business, not meddle with a soverign nation. Saddam knew what it took to keep the people of iraq under control, now look at it. Want to start this crap world wide? Lets keep our noses, money, time , resources and soldiers right here.

oh you mean the armed militants of the north that were shelling and killing citizens. would we let people just launch rockets into our citites? No we would end the situation quickly. saddam at least kept order, im not saying im a fan, but look at the country now, and the spread of lawlessness. what we do with a similar armed uprising here, and would we want another country to interfer with our response to any action taken here? these are armed , dangerous events, not occupy wall street.

February 8, 2012 at 10:43 am |

hondo101

LET SAUDI ARABIA SEND TROOPS!

February 8, 2012 at 10:44 am |

Terry

Wait you mean the first Golf War was because he defended himself. Man I didn't know Kuwait was to the north and I didn't know they shelled Iraq cities.

February 8, 2012 at 11:10 am |

b. taylor

Amen brother! (or sister). It's not in the US constitution to protect other countries from themselves. This kind of motherhood behavior, extending US sovereignty into other countries is nothing shy of empire building. It needs to stop.

Thanks, and that would be brother. I jsut wish we could use a little bit of reasonable thinking, and that are elected officials would remember that it should be the will of the people, not the will of the party

February 8, 2012 at 10:47 am |

Terry

It's what happens when you become a superpower(Or the last superpower). With that power comes responsibility, sometimes you have to step in and tell the kids to stop fighting.

February 8, 2012 at 11:12 am |

Harrys Putter

We went to war over Golf ?

Terry

Wait you mean the first Golf War was because he defended himself. Man I didn't know Kuwait was to the north and I didn't know they shelled Iraq cities.

February 8, 2012 at 11:28 am |

Terry

LOL Sorry Gulf, That's what happens and I have to reply to someone who is clueless and crazy, My fingers start to stress out.

I don't think military action in Syria will garner any approval in the US at all but go ahead and rattle the swords, if that helps. Just let the Israeli military take care of Iran and the people of Syria take care of Syria and bring our own guys home. Non-interference in civil wars is a damn good policy and we should maintain it.

Why is it that the US is always expected to spend more money than we have cleaning up every mess around the world? Most of the people in these countries do not even want us there or care about our opinion, but they of course want our money. We can't even pay for the domestic spending. Meanwhile China will watch us collapse as they focus on crushing us economically.

Who IS the real traitor, here?
The one that orders Christian and Jewish American soldiers into nations of Islam to reconstruct them over and over and over.

Who is this Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America that feels he must be King of All the World that he has the authority to do as he pleases with my sons to force them to rebuild that which their ancestors fought and died to defend their nations against?

you are the dumbest person in the history of ever. i mean really. its so easy for everyone to get behind the soldiers in ww2. oh nazi's are killing jews in mass, lets go get em boys, but when its syrians killing syrians its bad? what about the bs that bush fed us over how sadam was an evil doer and even though we cant find wmd's we can still remove the bad guy who kills his own people....? wake up idiot

Even in crisys America can not contain its medieval instinct of interfering in someone else's internal affair and create regional and world instability.
How much better would be a world without American barbarism!

The only military option that the US should be considering is....how do we continue to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. There should be no other options on the table, we should have no considerations for any military intervention in Syria. They are having a civil war, there should be no US troops being put in harms way.

Syria is not having a civil war. The people are being repressed by their government (dictatorship). This is turning into genocide, when people simply minding their own business at home are getting shelled. I'd like to see the U.S. adopt an approach similar to Libya. Put military pressure on Assad by means of airstrikes until he finally flees the country. I don't think anyone is suggesting U.S. boots on the ground. It's funny all of you who are complete anti-interventionalists now almost certainly supported Bush in going to war in Iraq.

CNN messing with my posting, too.
“I will start a demonstration if we continue to send US soldiers into nations of Islam to reconstruct them under the lie of terror – when these soldiers cannot afford a home – are deprived of employment when they return home – they are being forced to do this work so that they have an income.

I will not stand for it as we watch Israel surrounded with OUR US TAX DOLLARS and our own civilians are going without.

NO MORE AMERICA!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO SYRIA!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO EGYPT!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO ANY OTHER NATION OF ISLAM!

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THOSE REMAINING IN IRAQ NOW!

So help me God I mean what I just said for the record!
I will NOT sit back and watch Washington, DC force MY family whose ancestors fought the Crusades destroy that which they died for another day.

No more forcing MY son to deconstruct all of Christianity and Judaism for Barack Obama, as if it were a joke in the face of the international community.

The crusades were probably one of the 2 or 3 biggest genocides in the history of the planet. Your ancestors murdered millions of women and children. The crusades was about an insatiable blood lust and pillaging money and women from other Jews, Muslims and anyone else that got in their way.

Who said anything about reconstruct? The only thing at issue here is protecting innocent women and children getting killed for no reason other then so some dictator can fire off a few rounds before their shelf life expires. Oh and please do not talk about the crusades like they were a grand example of rightful war. They were nothing but and excuse to try and for our beliefs on a people that didn't want them. You might as well go burn some witches at the stake while you're at it.

Why should they?
Tell me one reason why they should?
To desconstruct Christianity and Judaism? In the face of their ancestors?
Should they spend another dime forfeited on reconstructing these nations of Islam against everything that my ancestors built in England and France?

You talk like you have faith yet what would God say if you sat there and watched a bunch of children get killed for no reason and then said, hey why should I help them, my ancestors spent years killing them during the crusades so they should problem be dead anyway?

February 8, 2012 at 11:23 am |

B Nelson

agreed. additionally, lets close our borders for awhile, not take on anymore middle eastern imigrants who want to dilute our american values, and rebuild the strenght of our nation and its core beliefs. Screw politically correct. let's defend ourselves. Lets remember this naton was founded on Christianity, not islam.

I will start a demonstration if we continue to send US soldiers into nations of Islam to reconstruct them under the lie of terror – when these soldiers cannot afford a home – are deprived of employment when they return home – they are being forced to do this work so that they have an income.

I will not stand for it as we watch Israel surrounded with OUR US TAX DOLLARS and our own civilians are going without.

NO MORE AMERICA!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO SYRIA!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO EGYPT!
NOT ONE SOLDIER TO ANY OTHER NATION OF ISLAM!

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THOSE REMAINING IN IRAQ NOW!

So help me God I mean what I just said for the record!
I will NOT sit back and watch Washington, DC force MY family whose ancestors fought the Crusades destroy that which they died for another day.

No more forcing MY son to desconstruct all of Christianity and Judeism for Barack Obama, as if it were a joke in the face of the international community.

So... this is a religious thing now? What does a brutal government committing crime against humanity have to do with religion? These are PEOPLE that are being slaughtered.. not just MUSLIMS. For a religious person that you are, you're quit cruel to just turn your back when your fellow man, women and child needs help. Is that what GOD teaches you? Also, a big thank you to your son for serving in the military of this great country, but remember.. he joined on his own free will. If God really exists, he/she/it would be disappointed in your comment.. because you've completed missed the point.

Even though I oppose US military action in Syria, I have to ask who the hell do you think you are? You're going to start a demonstration? My bet is you are busy badmouthing people who demonstrate, like Occupy. You bluster and threaten and tell us what you will make your son do... how's that going for you? If you don't like the war in Iraq, why not blame the man who started the war in Iraq; Bush. Bin Laden is dead, you should be happy. Where is your praise for Obama for that?
He hasn't put any military in Syria, so your blustering is nothing but far!s in the wind.

I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps, I have a house that I purchsed with a VA Loan, I'm in the process of getting my degree using my post 9/11 GI Bill, I work for a medical college, I take regular vacations and I think you don't know what your talking about. I signed up for the military, I had other options but I made a choice to fight for my country, I traveled the world before I was old enough to have a drink and some of the best times in my life was during my time in the military. I'm sick of civilians acting like they know whats going on when YOU obviously don't.

In the name of Patriotism, and defending your country you have been lied to.
The US Military was supposed to be used to defend our shores.
I will give you a pass on Afganistan and 911.
Any other conflict on this planet is none of our business unless
it affects us directly.

The global elite are now playing monopoly with real money
and risk with real armies.
Its just a board game to them.

February 8, 2012 at 11:42 am |

T Kitt

C. Brown – I for one appreciate your service and for your NOT being self centered. While there are many ways to serve this country, military service is one where its members collectively make the most personal sacrifices. While this country has its faults, there are few countries in this world with all the personal freedoms we have and with the willingness to help others in their time of need.

February 8, 2012 at 12:00 pm |

Len

Semper Fi

February 8, 2012 at 12:08 pm |

EN

Instead of starting a protest about the Syrian problems, remember that part of Syria's problem started with protests which got out of hand and possibly forced the Syrian President into the present situation. Just submitting your comments here and/or contacting your representatives or council members may help influence a reduction in aggressive behavior vs. spurring more verbal exchanges leading to physical harm exchanges.

Wow you are crazy, tell you what if you hate America so much why don't you and your family move back to your ancestors homeland, build yourselves a castle and then quickly die out before you pollute the Gene Pool anymore.

Let rich Arab countries help Syriian opposition with arms and money, to dislodge Assad. Thats the best option. US has done enough in that region. The options are not democracy but will be either a dictator, King, Islamist hardliners or tribes with mideval mindset. So let Sunni muslim countries help their brothers in Syria; after all they are the largest in numbers in Islamic world.

How about we just use this as a valid reason to eject Russia and China from the security council so they can't force the U.S. into another armed conflict and strategically wreck our economy by hamstringing the feeble U.N.

Perhaps. But Russia and China too often end up on the side of the bad guys. They let their own interest in oil or arms sales dictate their policy.

February 8, 2012 at 11:13 am |

Terry

Dave everyone does, even the US looks at it's own interests first....we just hope in the end we do the right thing.

February 8, 2012 at 11:27 am |

enkephalin07

It looks pretty bad over there. But the more I'm inundated with manipulative images and matching headlines, the more sounds like a trap. A trap not just for public opinion, but for the interests trying to steer it toward Syrian action. Could our entanglement in Syria's revolution be poorly timed for us but favorably timed for enemies and rivals? How could it benefit Iran and Russia?

Yeah it makes you wonder more why China and Russia have been such big oppositions to helping Syria. They know the US isn't going to stand idle while people are being slaughtered by an unfit ruler. China and Russia are sneaky weasels.

They are standing back because even though the current dictatorship is bad they do a TON of trading with them and sell them a ton of weapons. Russia and China want to keep things like they are because they are making a lot of money off it. Sad but True.

February 8, 2012 at 11:28 am |

Coflyboy

China and Russia are more interested in making money selling weapons to Syria than in human rights or people's freedom. THAT is the travesty. The US and UN should be placing sanctions on Russia and China as well.

February 8, 2012 at 12:41 pm |

David

How much foreign aid has been going to Syria? If any, it should not be. There should be no military intervention and, if there is, it should be with equal resoures from other NATO members. There is no reason, none, for our country to be taking the lead. We are broke!

It's time for Obama to man up and order immediate intervention to stop the massacre of innocents in Syria.
These day and age we shouldn't allow ANY innocent massacres like these, it's the right thing to do.
Clinton did it for Bosnia/Serbia, time for Obama to step up as commander in chief and take care of this POS Assad.

It's not about "manning up". Remember, we just ended a decade long war in Iraq and slowly moving out of Afghanistan. The last thing we want to do is commit ourselves to a new war. This has to be carefully thought out considering we KNOW China and Russia are on the other end of this problem. Iran is at the peak of boiling point as well. If our military gets involved in Syria without , Iran might see it as an opportunity to push back.

No more wars. Lets give it a rest and get our house in order. These politicians are a bunch of chickenhawks.

February 8, 2012 at 12:07 pm |

mipolitic

this story is a scam, sorry not going to take any militay action in syria , assad would point finger at israel and there would be a regional war. iran is the target, and musy be targeted soon, the sanctions are not working and the iran mad men are just becoming more strengthened in their defiance.

It took far fewer civilian deaths in Libya to prompt a military response than what is happening in Syria. There are plenty of low-cost, low-risk strategies - arms shipments, air-strikes, drone-strikes - that would serve to end a humanitarian crisis - and have the added advantage of sticking a stick in Iran's eye by taking down one of Iran's most significant allies in the Middle East.

Your President, that being Obama gave to Lybia one billion dollars totally free, so they could buy arms to fight. Watch again as we get involved in Syria. How about cleaning up our own back yard first, namely our economy, our welfare system, or corrupt politicians continued running and being re elected, how about our educational system which is a joke today, how about our energy dependence on foreign oil, how about better and more training for getting skilled workers, which today is almost NONE instead of bloated salaries to CEO's, how about making better products to compete better globally, how about reducing our excessive spending, and how, trying to reduce our debt to China and how about simplifying our tax codes and have a flat tax where everyone pays something instead of almost 38% who make money and they pay nothing and I am not talking about the rich here who pay the majority of revenue taxes, look it up.

Unfortunately Eric, we care about what happens in the world. If you don't mind knowing that women and children are being blown apart by rockets and mortars, then just continue about your day. Hopefully no one you care about cries for help, someone walking by and seeing whats happening might just think to themselves, "I have my own problems to deal with" and just pretend like they didn't see anything.

This situation didn't just pop out of thin air. There was an ongoing movement of opinions and actions from several different groups that culminated in this current event. Do we or the Syrian people need it to escalate? No. In the US and other places we have groups called Neighborhood Watch. They report to each other and to the proper channels when problems are observed. Not every country has seen the need for this, but hopefully countries with radical problems will find suitable solutions before it grows into such chaos.

All the U.S. has done in Iraq and Libya is replace relatively harmless socialist regimes with WESTERN ideals, with radical Islamist regimes that are a REAL danger to the U.S. Syria, on the other hand, HAS armed and assisted enemies of the United States and DO represent a threat. So what is the President doing? NOTHING!
SELF-INTEREST of the United States seems like an alien concept to this president.

Isn't this a UN mission? Why are we the first ones to commit our resources to humanitarian relief? This is the start of another quagmire, internal struggles for power are only going to be one war lord vs. the other war lords and innocent people will unfortunately get caught in the middle. How do we intervene on a limited basis? The UN is totally worthless, get it off US soil.

I was against going into Iraq the first time as well as the second. Unfortunately this is all connected and it must be finished. Those who screamed for blood in Iraq and Afghanistan should have been more careful in what they wished for. They asked for blood and it comes. This is Bush's "Long War" so the arm chair pacifists and war mongers with their 2 second attention spans do not need to reply to this post just go back to playing your video games and let those who pay attention to other things on a consistent daily basis worry of this. Something must be done in Syria. Iif it means U.S. boots on the ground remember-next time one calls for vengeance, or an eye for an eye, and blood know that you shall have it in great abundance. The option would have been to do the christian thing and "turn the other cheek" and accept the offense "7 times 70." Instead Americans only think of those things when it convenient for them to do so; like say an economic downturn.

Next time scream for peace and reconciliation rather the blood and strife. Next time when offended "turn the other cheek" and rebuild in silence with no mourning.

My statement stands. I will add if we had not gone into the region at all I would agree with you but the fact that the U.S. has gone in on many occasions both overt and covert has caused the need for further action. It is like a unskilled craftsman that has to go back and fix his work many times. If the U.S. had never gone in Kuwait/Iraq January 1991 and stayed on only to return again and then to Afghanistan I would agree we should not go. This is like a glass breaking: It can not just be stopped once broken. The pieces still have to fall and land where they may. The glass is still breaking and the pieces are still falling. Short sightedness and lack of understanding of the dynamic does not change anything.

February 8, 2012 at 10:57 am |

ScottDav

I agree with you to a point but the instability in the region goes back much further. The fall of the Ottoman Empire as a result of WWI and the promises (one being that they, Arab ethnic groups, could define their country/national borders was a HUGE issue) that were never fulfilled to the Arab peoples, who significantly helped in overthrowing the Turks, set the stage then and now for the anti-western rhetoric we see (Western powers ended up carving up the region how they wanted (oil being there, and easily accessible in many areas, was a new hot topic at the time). The United States, at that time, supported the Arabs taking back their lands but were overruled). I don't have the sources on hand to spout to support what i am saying but they are out there (google it).

funny how there is no money for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other domestic social services BUT there is alway money for wars. of course the politician have in their pockets all those billionaire friends in the weapons industry and other supporting industries like haliburton, xe, etc. NO NO MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLAR FOR THESE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES WHO HATE US ANYWAY. WHO WANT TO BRING AND FORCE THEIR STINKING MUSLIM EVIL RELIGION ON US . NO NO NO NO. NO MORE BLOOD FROM OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOR THEIR EVIL COUNTRIES. better yet why not round up and send all those muslims who now live here in the US to go fight and die for thier muslims friends

If the wanton slaughter of Syrians continue by a minority, dictatorial Alawite faction led by the Assad family, this becomes a humanitarian crisis. I believe the US should not ever be in a position to "police" the world. When it becomes a humanitarian crisis, no civilized country including the US can ignore this. There are diplomatic solutions and perhaps some covert solutions that can be applied quickly with dramatic results. The problem is when there is a sudden power vacuum, the situation may become worse.

OBAMA WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?
ATTACK THOSE EVIL YOU CREATED, YOU HELPED IRAQI SHIIA THUGS AND YOU ALLOWED IRAN TO CONTROL IRAQ, IRAN IS HELPING SYRIAN THOSE ARE THE TRUE EVIL RUSSIAN, IRAN, SYRIA AND HIZBOALLAH ALL ARE TERRORISTS. YOU MUST HELP TRUKEY WITH WEAPONS SO THE CAN HELP SYRIAN OPPOSITIONS THEY NEED DRAWNS , HEAVY WEAPONS ROCKET LANCHERS AND SNIPER RIFELS. LAND MINES AND THEY NEED CASH FOR FOOD ....HELP THE OPPOSITION TO ATTACK RUSSIAN INTERESTS, AND ASK ASIAN MUSLIMS TO CUT RELATIONS WITH RUSSAI SO THEY CAN BE ISLATED AND HAVE NO MARKETS.

We need to get off imported Oil...Algae – green oil grow our own in the vast desert..use farmland for food crops...use the deserts for algae farms..solar farms and get off imported oil...That Keystone XL/2 is export only will make the big Texas oil men richer off tax free exported oil..and reduce the real oil in Keystone 1 which supplies oil refineries in Oklahoma and Illinois with cheap oil...average mid west farmer will pay $2,000 more for fuel after Keystone XL/2 is finished..and China owns 45% of those Alberta Tar Sand fields by buying in on the Canadian company that owns them...China also own Gulf oil wells too..through Canadian companies...Grown our oil and make the U.S. of A. stronger and safer..

The situation in Syria is horrible and my heart goes out to all the people who are affected by the violence.

However, what bothers me is the following quote:

"The two officials were not willing to be identified because they were not authorized to talk to the media."

I have had it with all of the press leaks. These two individuals need to be fired immediately. Why are people so willing to forgo their responsibilities and ethics? What's the point of a privacy statement or security clearance anymore? And people wonder why we as a country can get things done quickly? Everything is turned into politics since there are people who want to make a story.

Yes this happens all the time...a soldier is put in Leavenworth for life for leaking one secret...but the top government civilians and military leaders leak information all the time...like Cheney's office leaking a CIA undercover agents identity and the Pentagon or a defense contractor leaking information about someone else's meal ticket project so they will get fully funded....

Unfortunately Russia and China know that many times what the West calls democracy is just a take over of the countries government by foreign money..How much money do outsiders give to get Democratic leaders elected and keep them there..and then our corporations move in and get great contracts and deals to build and operate plants and factories..Remember the chemical accident in India years ago a village gassed by a badly managed and poorly operated chemical plant..and after many died and many years of legal battles they paid very little to the relatives of dead, or the Indian government...nothing near what would have happened in the U.S...

Mr. President.........stay out of Syria! Time to let these countries fight it out for themselves, and overthrow their own governments without our aid. After all, we are seen as the evil force in the world. Now they cry for help. Then we go to help them, and this just gives Al Qaeda another reason to cry that we meddle in their business and we use aggression. So, let it be. Of course, when we don't come to the rescue, we will be seen as evil anyhow, because we allowed so many of their own people to die. They don't care about our troops over there, fighting their wars for them, because they don't have the military power.

The only reason why US feels the need to go into Syria is because they covertly tried to install democracy and its not working. This is nothing more than a civil war and if the same thing were happening in America, the government would be using troops and whatever other means were available to stop their own citizens. It always ends with who has the bigger bombs, not the change in the quality of life. If you're still not convinced, look at Iraq since the US pulled out.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.